‘After nearly destroying the world, the relatives have become allies’: a gripping podcast featuring John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev’s relatives.

In October 1962, humanity came nearer to destruction more so than ever in recent history. This transpired after a US reconnaissance plane identified that Soviet nuclear missile installations were being built on Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States. Reacting to this, President John F Kennedy ordered a naval task force to impose a maritime quarantine around Cuba. The next phase constituted almost two weeks of unbearable anxiety.

The Catastrophic Threat

The threat remained clear. Should Kennedy, or else his Russian opposite, Nikita Khrushchev, were to fire on the other side, a series involving global atomic strikes and counterstrikes might have followed, thrusting humanity into total destruction.

This pivotal 1962 event has been examined endlessly, through books, movies, as well as TV documentaries. But, for its third season, the audio documentary series titled "The Bomb" has brought a novel perspective to this historical narrative. The series is co-presented featuring Kennedy's relative and Nina Khrushcheva, relatives belonging to the leaders that, for two tense weeks, controlled the destiny of humanity within their grasp.

"What were the Soviet side considering? What was the United States thinking?" asks Nina Khrushcheva, the Soviet leader's descendant who is also a professor of global relations.

In her view, the strength of the podcast lies in its attempt to objectively ask: "Why do individuals hate each other and confront one another?"

"It struck me how spectacular the fact that individuals have the potential to be friends or else have the potential to be total enemies," remarks Max Kennedy, son of Robert Kennedy, nephew of JFK and now a writer as well as lawyer. "History shows this dynamic over and over in instances where nations have gone to war, demonstrating how unbelievably stupid it is to fight."

The Brink Towards Disaster

What’s notable regarding the Cuban missile crisis is that, because it unfolded so publicly, people around the world were able to observe almost as it happened as it edged closer to armageddon. Nonetheless, the threat of destruction was more imminent than anybody realised.

"Virtually everyone among Kennedy's advisors were advocating for a military strike followed by a ground invasion," explains Max Kennedy. "Had the U.S. attacked Cuba with the naval blockade, there is no question Soviet forces stationed there would have deployed a nuclear warhead at the American ships, which would have destroyed our naval vessels as well as destroyed our primary naval force. In turn, the U.S. would have retaliated with an overwhelming counterattack which would have eradicated all life on Earth."

The fact it didn’t stands as credit to both leaders, who succeeded in keep their heads and calmly negotiate at a time when everyone around them demanded action. As a result, The Soviet premier removed the nuclear weapons from the Caribbean island and Kennedy (a fact not publicly disclosed at the time) withdrew American missiles from Turkey. The sense of relief was palpable, as was a feeling of hope.

A Divergent Perspective

Yet, during those 13 days of October 1962, the tension was palpable by everyone. The Bomb’s presenters came into the world in the years following these events, with Khrushcheva being taught about it through the Soviet school curriculum, which portrayed an alternative version of what happened.

"As you mentioned your father recalls it, and it was a frightening time," Khrushcheva notes. "However in the Soviet Union, the public really didn’t know a great deal about it, since it was a crisis, whereas under the Soviet system we were told that everything was constantly fine or positive."

Inside the Khrushchev household, however, it was distinct. "They told me what a great moment it was, as it was a direct confrontation. They were able to resolve it, thus didn’t start the war, which was a positive outcome," she continues. Subsequently, however, that view was not shared by all Russians. "For a long time in Russian politics, it was considered a failure for the Soviet leader, because he didn’t blow up America."

An Unprecedented Collaboration

The Bomb is so balanced and well produced that Nina quips she nearly forgot the known the ending. This is, partly, thanks to the participation of historians. But, truly, the most momentous aspect remains the participation of the descendants. Even within living memory, it was inconceivable that descendants of the heads of state of the United States and Soviet Union would appear side by side. The fact that these two individuals are able to do so, and exhibit such warmth with each other, has to be a symbol of optimism.

"Max and I aren't the first," smiles Nina. "After 1991, my uncle Sergey Khrushchev’s son where he became great friends with the former president's family."

"But we had never met before the podcast," adds Kennedy. "That is a shame since we got along really well and now we are friends, which is wonderful. Finally, after almost six decades since nearly annihilating the world, our families are now allies, so I think the world is more secure, somewhat."

Modern Echoes and Present Perils

Or is it? Part of why The Bomb seems so urgent is because we now find ourselves in a perilous era. The symbolic clock of doom is closer to midnight in its history, in part because today's statesmen don’t seem to have the capacity to comprehend